Written Answers Friday 27 March 2009

Scottish Executive

Disclosure Scotland

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how long it takes to process applications for (a) Disclosure Scotland and (b) enhanced Disclosure Scotland checks.

Adam Ingram: Disclosure Scotland provides three types of Disclosures: Basic, Standard and Enhanced. Two performance measures are used for turnaround times; one for basic applications, and one for Standard and Enhanced applications. Both are measured against a service level agreement target to issue 90% of correctly completed applications within 14 calendar days.

  At 22 March 2009, 99% of Basic applications were issued within 14 days, with an average turnaround time of 8.7 days. At that same date, 87% of Standard and Enhanced applications were completed within 14 days, with an average time of 13.2 days. The combined turnaround time for all types of applications was 10.5 days, with 93% completed within 14 days.

  The Disclosure Scotland website gives up-to-date information on the overall turnaround time at http://www.disclosurescotland.co.uk/news.htm.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action has been taken to ensure that alcohol and drug action teams and child protection committees have in place local protocols for sharing information and working with families affected by substance misuse, including information to identify pregnant substance misusers.

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action it has taken to ensure that alcohol and drug action teams and child protection committees have in place local protocols and policies for joint working across agencies in relation to children and families affected by substance misuse.

Adam Ingram: Since the publication of Hidden Harm, Next Steps in 2006, Local Authority Child Protection Committees and Alcohol and Drug Action Teams across the country have formed joint working groups on issues in relation to substance misusing parents’ care of their children, including the development of appropriate local protocols and policies for joint working and sharing information. The Scottish Government has funded STRADA, the Scottish Government alcohol and drug training agency, STRADA to support the work of these groups by, for example, carrying out audits of training needs of child protection staff, delivering training tailored to the findings of these audits, and assisting local groups in developing local protocols.

  In addition, the Scottish Government has taken forward a range of actions to improve children’s services. These include our Early Years Strategy, Getting it right for every child, the Children’s Hearings Bill, and action in relation to adoption and fostering, and corporate parenting.

  We have committed £320,000 and a seconded member of staff over the next three years to set up a Multi-Agency Resource Service (MARS) to provide support, advice and information to all of those working in child care and protection.

  In December 2008, we announced a comprehensive review of the 1998 inter-agency child protection guidance, to be completed this year.

  We are investing around £1.93 million a year to transform Scottish children’s services through the Getting It Right For Every Child agenda, with pathfinders now in more than a quarter of local authorities areas developing its practical application.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , whether it plans to review current advice on drinking during pregnancy to ensure that it is consistent and whether it will continue to raise awareness of the risks as part of national and local communications campaigns.

Shona Robison: Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer, jointly with the other UK Chief Medical Officers, issued clear advice in May 2007 that women who are pregnant or trying to conceive should avoid alcohol. This is the advice that is carried in Scottish Government publications for several years and there are no plans to review it in the near future. We will continue to ensure that communications relating to health and pregnancy continue to make people aware of these risks.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what plans it has to improve training for midwives and health visitors so that they can better support substance-misusing pregnant women and be confident about signposting them to specialist services.

Shona Robison: Working with others, NHS Education for Scotland are running a number of education initiatives to ensure that the training and development need of health visitors and practitioners are met. This includes how to support families with substance misuse problems and how to access specialist services.

  All midwives are taught the importance of dynamic history taking and adopting ways to facilitate women to disclose information related to alcohol or domestic abuse, this includes recognising potential signs of either and managing appropriately. As good practice and as part of the dynamic history taking and antenatal care pathway, midwives ask all pregnant women about alcohol consumption and domestic abuse at varying stages through pregnancy and after. If either is suspected or confirmed appropriate pathways of care and support systems are put in place.

  Chapter five of the 2008 national drugs strategy The Road to Recovery, "Getting it Right for Children in Substance-Misusing Families", builds on aspects of earlier work which has succeeded while realigning children affected by parental substance misuse with a preventative, early intervention agenda and an emphasis on support for families, along with strengthened management of immediate risk. Actions in the chapter focus on three key themes (identification, assessment and information-sharing, building the capacity and quality of support services and strengthening the effectiveness of immediate risk management).

  STRADA, the Scottish Government alcohol and drug training agency, was set up to improve the skills of professional staff addressing drug and alcohol misuse in Scotland and to ensure that interventions were evidence based. Training is provided to professionals in health, social work, education, police, prisons, pharmacists, housing and employment staff and other non-statutory organisations. STRADA has also been commissioned to carry out an audit of training needs of their child protection staff, deliver training tailored to these findings and assist Local Authorities to develop joint protocols.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action is being taken to highlight the consequences of alcohol use in pregnancy and the possibility of foetal alcohol syndrome.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has introduced a new NHS target on screening for alcohol misuse and delivering brief interventions to patients whose drinking may be putting their short and/or long-term health at risk. We have specified antenatal care as one of the priority settings for implementation.

  We significantly increased funding to NHS boards for specialist alcohol treatment and support services from £10 million in 2007-08 to almost £25 million in 2009-10, with further increases to follow. First call on these resources is to deliver the brief interventions target.

  The number of cases of fetal alcohol syndrome diagnosed each year is low, but it is thought that a greater number go undiagnosed. We have therefore given a commitment to arrange a survey of the incidence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in Scotland. We are currently taking forward plans to bring together key stakeholders to discuss the scope and scale of the project.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action has been taken to work with local agencies to ensure that the needs of vulnerable infants are identified and responded to as early as possible so that they can make the best possible start at school.

Adam Ingram: The early years framework published jointly with COSLA on 10 December 2008 is based on the principles of early intervention and sets out 10 elements of transformational change that will help to improve policy and delivery for young children, particularly those at higher risk of poor outcomes. The framework places a strong emphasis on the role of local partners and this will be reflected in single outcome agreements with community planning partners.

  The content of the early years framework aligns with and complements the prevention and early intervention approach set out in Road to Recovery and Getting it right for every child.

  In addition, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , how it intends to ensure that protocols are developed and implemented that will alert health visitors and social workers to the needs of mothers and children as well as those of wider family members who may be supporting them.

Shona Robison: The need for greater, shared understanding amongst professionals around the needs of children is a common theme in a number of existing and developing Government initiatives, including Getting It Right for Every Child , Early Years Strategy, Equally Well , Children affected by Domestic Abuse Delivery plan and work around children affected by parental substance misuse agenda.

  All of the above developments require local partnerships to work closely together to protect children at risk, particularly those affected by parental drug misuse.

  Health visitors work as part of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams to support families and to identify risks to health. Their work includes the provision of a universal programme of preventative care which includes the delivery of agreed screening and surveillance procedures, health promotion and establishing which families have complex needs. Following assessment by a health visitor, Family Health Plans are produced. Families who require intensive support, such a those affected by parental drug misuse, will receive structured interagency support.

  Health visitors are alerted to the needs of children and families through their work as part of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency teams and by building and maintaining links to the communities they serve.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) have been commissioned to develop integrated pathways for the appropriate level of evidence based care for vulnerable children and families. This will include looking at a common approach to assessment, which articulates with integrated multi-agency assessment (in line with Getting it right for every child) and developing referral criteria which will assist maternity and early years services to identify and support potential vulnerability. Appropriate multi-agency care pathways will be developed for children identified as vulnerable and families in need of additional and intensive interventions i.e. domestic violence, parental addictions, literacy. It will focus on zero to three years.

  Equally Well, the Report of the Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities, identifies the importance of early years and supporting vulnerable families through multi-agency interventions as priorities for action. Test sites will lead the way in delivering the task force’s recommendations.

  Each test site is a collaboration between local public services, aimed ultimately at reducing inequalities. The themes of the test sites focus on the task force’s priorities, two of which are early years and preventing violence among young people. The test sites aim to improve client pathways or routes into, through, between and out of a range of local public services, particularly for clients who are most at risk of poor health and wellbeing. Two of the eight test sites have a particular focus on early years. We will spread learning from the test sites across Scotland, as it emerges.

  The Family Nurse Partnership Programme is a model of intensive nurse-led home visiting for vulnerable first time young parents which involves family nurses visiting young, disadvantaged parents from early pregnancy until the child is two years old. Nurses build close supportive relationships with families and guide inexperienced teenagers to adopt healthier lifestyles, improve their parenting skills, and become self sufficient. The programme is focussed around mother and child, but aims to build links with fathers and the wider family network, where appropriate.

  The pilot in Scotland will be based in Lothian. It will link to the Getting it Right for Every Child agenda through the family nurse taking the lead professional role, involving other agencies in the welfare of the child and family where appropriate.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , how it will ensure that, where children’s needs are best met by removing them from their birth families, local agencies make the relevant decisions appropriately and that permanent placements are found quickly.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government places a great importance on improving the experience of our Looked After Children, from the moment that they come to the attention of the local authority through to the permanent placement which is most suitable for them.

  The Looked After Children (Scotland) Regulations 2009 and the Adoption and Children (Scotland) Act 2007, once fully implemented, will streamline the process to support local authorities to improve the effectiveness of their decision making. One of the main focuses of these pieces of legislation is to ensure that the decision making process for these vulnerable children is always based on their best interests, including the length of time it takes to ensure that each child achieves the placement which best meets their needs, and contributes to positive outcomes for that child.

  In addition, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action has been taken to ensure that local authorities make appropriate arrangements to identify children who may have additional support needs, as required under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004.

Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004 (the 2004 act) and its associated code of practice set out the duties and responsibilities of local authorities and other agencies in identifying and meeting the additional support needs of Scotland’s children.

  The 2004 act requires education authorities to make arrangements to identify from among the children and young people for whose school education they are responsible those who have additional supports needs. Also, where it is brought to the attention of an education authority that a child may have additional support needs, the education authority must establish if this is so or not, unless they consider it unreasonable to do so. For example, any member of school staff, social work, youth worker, or even the child, may alert the education authority.

  Under the 2004 act parents, carers or the young persons themselves, if aged 16 or over, may ask the education authority to carry out a specific type of assessment or examination to establish whether the young person has additional support needs. They can also access new mechanisms for resolving disagreements with the education authority, including any disputes over identification of additional support needs.

  Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Education as part of their general inspection programme, continue to review and report on the adequacy of provision for learning support in schools across all education authorities and identify where necessary, steps that needs to be taken to improve support for pupils.

  In addition, please see the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , how it plans to promote services that provide accessible and timely support for vulnerable children and young people, including facilities that allow them to access direct help for themselves, such as interactive websites.

Adam Ingram: Getting it right for every child is the Scottish Government’s policy for addressing the needs of all children, and the underpinning philosophy of our approach to supporting children and young people affected by parental substance misuse. Getting it right provides the framework within which public agencies can work better together with a focus on improving outcomes for all children, including children vulnerable due to their parents’ drug or alcohol misuse. We have no plans at this time to develop interactive websites in this area.

  In addition, I refer the member to answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action it has taken to improve the contact and communication between vulnerable families and school authorities so that issues around vulnerable children can be discussed in trust.

Adam Ingram: There are a number of different strands of work which support the improvement of contact and communication between vulnerable families and school authorities.

  The Parental Involvement Act 2006 places a duty on education authorities to draw up a strategy to involve parents in their children’s learning. The guidance to the act states that in drawing up this strategy, education authorities must take into account issues of equality and any factors that may act as barriers, discourage or inhibit parents’ involvement in their children’s education or contact with the school.

  The Scottish Government is committed to providing early support to parents. The Early Years Framework has been highlighted as one of the key elements for transformational change. Local partners will work together with a focus on early years prevention and early intervention, which should encompass activities to promote wellbeing in young children (pre-birth-8) and their families and improve outcomes for vulnerable children. There are a range of early intervention programmes which promote positive parenting skills and target support at families, especially at challenging times.

  Under Curriculum for Excellence every child and young person is entitled to expect their education to provide them with personal support involving a range of people including parents. All staff share a responsibility for identifying the needs, including care and welfare needs, and putting support in place to meet those needs. The Happy, Safe and Achieving Their Potential 10 standards of support, continue to be important, especially standards 7-9 regarding communication with parents.

  The Scottish Government promotes the use of staged intervention approaches in school. These approaches provide the framework for multi-agency discussions, including parents, towards provision of support for vulnerable children and young people. In addition, we support the development of nurture groups, which provide targeted support to vulnerable children with social and emotional behavioural difficulties and involvement of parents is central to the success of this approach.

  More generally, the Getting it right for every child programme, currently being developed and tested in pathfinder projects and learning partnerships, promotes an approach to working with children and families, including in the school environment, that places the child at the centre, works in partnership with families, and respects the right to confidentiality for children and for families, while recognising that the duty to safeguard children comes first.

  In addition, please see the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , how it will ensure that there is consistency of support and information sharing in the key transitional years between primary and secondary school.

Adam Ingram: The Education (Additional Support for Learning)(Scotland) Act 2004 and the Additional Support for Learning (Changes in School Education)(Scotland) Regulations 2005 require education authorities to take specific action to help children with additional support needs make the transition from primary to secondary school.

  The regulations specify that where appropriate, no later than 12 months before a pupil begins to receive secondary education, authorities are required to seek and take account of relevant advice and information from appropriate agencies (such as NHS boards or other services provided by the local authority) and any other persons as they consider appropriate.

  In addition, no later than six months before the transition from primary to secondary school, education authorities are required to pass on to any relevant agencies information including information on the additional support needs of the child and on the additional support provided during the prior six months. This information should only be passed on with the consent of the child’s parents.

  Through the Getting it right for every child programme and the associated development of Information Technology and eCare to support best practice, we are working to improve the way information about children can be accessed in a secure way by relevant practitioners.

  The Scottish Government publication Happy, Safe and Achieving their Potential was published in February 2005. It encourages close liaison between schools and other service providers at transition points to help children and young people to feel personally prepared and help children, young people and parents understand the support arrangements between providers.

  In addition, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action it has taken actively to promote partnerships between local statutory agencies and voluntary organisations.

Adam Ingram: Together with COSLA, we are currently finalising a new framework for local partnerships on alcohol and drugs that will clearly set out the responsibilities of the Scottish Government and local government, NHS boards, agencies and partnerships, and the accountability arrangements between them. The need for local partners to work closely with the third sector, both strategically and operationally, will be an integral part of that framework.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , how it will continue to encourage agencies, including those whose primary focus is on adults, to make sure that their staff have access to appropriate training, including multi-agency training where appropriate.

Adam Ingram: The 2008 national drugs strategy, The Road To Recovery , sets out the Scottish Government’s approach to working with agencies and key stakeholders to support children affected by parental substance misuse. The strategy highlighted workforce development as critical. NHS Health Scotland are currently chairing a steering group whose task is to develop an alcohol and drugs workforce development strategy which will be published later this year.

  Alongside that, we continue to fund Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol (STRADA) to offer free multi-agency training across social care, health and housing on working with families affected by substance misuse. We also funded STRADA this year to help create the foundations of a sustainable training programme, based on Children at The Centre, and with the potential to widen the range of staff and professionals accessing training on child protection responsibilities.

  We will also continue to work in partnership with key stakeholders to implement a range of strategic Frameworks and tools generated under Changing Lives to build the capacity and capability of the social service workforce.

  In addition, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what plans it has to invest in workforce development across the network of children’s services to enhance capacity for recognising, understanding and addressing mental health issues in children and young people.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Government is working with NHS boards and other partners to deliver the objectives set out in the Mental Health of Children and Young People: A Framework for Promotion, Prevention and Care; Delivering a Healthy Future Action Framework, and Delivering for Mental Health. These provide a combined framework that will assist local health, education and social work services in planning and delivering integrated approaches to children and young people’s mental health. Government has funded a mapping exercise on Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service activity around a range of groups and subject areas including looked after and accommodated children, web-based support, workforce development, black and minority ethnic groups and early intervention.

  Other Government action will contribute. For example, we fund Scottish Training on Drugs and Alcohol (STRADA) to offer free-multi-agency training across social care, health and housing on working with individuals, families and children affected by substance misuse. This includes interventions that protect child development and promote coping skills including resilience. We also provide over £3.4 million a year to the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care to develop the skills of those working in the sector. Later this year, a National Residential Child Care Initiative, supported by Government, will recommend actions to improve the outcomes for looked after children, including education and health. These will include recommendations on workforce development.

  In addition, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action it has taken to work with NHS boards to require healthcare professionals to collect information about dependent children of substance abusers.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government, in conjunction with NHS employers, will be reviewing the mechanisms by which healthcare professionals collect information about dependent children of substance abusers. Further information will be made available in due course.

  I also refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , whether it plans to introduce legislation to place a duty on agencies to identify the needs of children for whom they have a responsibility, including those of drug-using parents, and for agencies to cooperate with each other to take action to protect the children and meet their needs.

Adam Ingram: Under the Scottish Government’s approach to Getting it right for every child we are developing practical methods of identifying and assessing children’s risks and needs, including children affected by parental substance misuse, in pathfinder projects and learning partnerships, allowing a common approach among agencies based on shared language.

  Within existing legislation, pathfinding activity is showing how agencies can work better together to improve outcomes for all children, including those of drug-using parents. A learning partnership has been developed with Angus Council and partners specifically on this group of children. If evaluation of the pathfinder projects and learning partnerships suggests that legislation could practically enhance joint working and co-operation between agencies that will be considered in due course.

  In addition, I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , whether it will implement an integrated assessment, planning and recording framework across all areas and agencies.

Adam Ingram: The guide to Getting it right for every child, issued in September 2008, gives further guidance on a common approach for agencies to assessing children’s risks and needs based on shared language and using the results of assessment and analysis to develop a single plan shared by all agencies providing support to a child or young person. Under the eCare Framework, National Data Standards are being developed to allow agencies to record data in a standard fashion, and thus facilitate information sharing in a safe and secure environment respecting consent and confidentiality.

  In addition, I refer the member to answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in relation to the recommendations in Hidden Harm - Next Steps: Supporting Children Working with Parents , what action it has taken to expand the Scottish Drug Misuse Database to ensure that information on dependent children of drug-using parents is collected when clients present for treatment.

Adam Ingram: The amount of information within the Scottish Drug Misuse Database on dependent children of drug using parents has expanded significantly since 2006.

  Data on individuals reporting to drug treatment services are collected by Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland as a series of Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR).The SMR datasets are a significant local and national information resource, and are used for epidemiological monitoring, health needs assessment, national and local planning and a range of other applications.

  Since April 2006 the relevant SMR for drug treatment (SMR25a) has been asking "Does the client have dependent children?". It asks if the client is living with their own children, if their own children are living elsewhere, or if they are living with their partner’s children, and asks for ages of children for up to six children. There is a corollary question that asks if the client or their partner is pregnant.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the meetings between the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, (b) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, (c) Cabinet Secretary for Justice, (d) Minister for Children and Early Years, (e) Minister for Community Safety and (f) Minister for Public Health and Sport and alcohol and drug action teams to discuss the protection of vulnerable children.

Adam Ingram: Mr Ingram has met with local authorities to discuss child protection on the following occasions:

  

 5 February 2008
 Clackmannanshire Council


 17 March 2008
 Visit to Dumfries GIRFEC Domestic Abuse Pathfinder with Dumfries and Galloway Council


 18 March 2008
 All areas at Child Protection Committee Chairs meeting


 27 March 2008
 East Renfrewshire 


 3 June 2008
 Moray


 18 June 2008
 Aberdeen City


 29 July 2008
 Visit to Clydebank GIRFEC project with West Dunbartonshire Council


 12 September 2008
 Stirling


 11 December 2008
 All areas at Child Protection Committee Chairs meeting


 16 December 2008
 Visit to Falkirk Domestic Abuse Pathfinder with Falkirk Council


 12 January 2009
 Aberdeen City


 13 January 2009
 Meeting with Moray Council


 10 March 2009
 Renfrewshire


 10 March 2009
 East Lothian


 13 March 2009
 Attendance at National Domestic Abuse Projects Board Managers



  Ms Hyslop met with local authorities on the following occasions, where child protection was on the agenda:

  

 29 July 2008
 Dumfries and Galloway


 4 August 2008
 West Lothian


 5 August 2008
 Highland


 6 August 2008
 Orkney


 12 August 2008
 Renfrewshire


 12 August 2008
 East Dunbartonshire


 13 August 2008
 South Ayrshire


 19 August 2008
 Perth and Kinross


 21 August 2008
 East Renfrewshire


 26 August 2008
 Highland


 27 August 2008
 Argyll and Bute


 11 December 2008
 East Lothian


 27 January 2009
 Edinburgh


 28 January 2009
 Renfrewshire


 2 March 2009
 West Lothian



  In addition to the above meetings, Ms Hyslop met with various Chief Executives of the 32 Local Authorities at a meeting with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE) on 30 January 2009 where the topic of child protection and children’s services was discussed.

  The Minister for Community Safety and Minister for Public Health meets with ADATs regularly and discuss a range of issues including those relating to the protection of vulnerable children.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the meetings between ministers to discuss policy in relation to the protection of children at risk in relation to alcohol or drug misuse.

Adam Ingram: Ministers have met regularly together, and with partners such as local authorities and alcohol and drug action teams, to discuss policy around children at risk from parental alcohol and drug misuse in the development and implementation of the 2008 drug strategy, The Road to Recovery : A New Approach to Tackling Scotland’s Drug Problem . Ministers across Scottish Government continue to discuss these issues and to work together to ensure children affected by parental substance misuse receive the care, protection and support they need to share the same high aspirations we have for all of Scotland’s children.

  In addition, I refer the member to answer to question S3W-21978 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there is a ministerial working group to consider the best interests of children at risk in relation to alcohol or drug misuse, as was the case under the previous administration.

Adam Ingram: Scottish Government’s approach to supporting children affected by parental substance misuse has moved on significantly since the publication of Hidden Harm – Next Steps in May 2006. The 2008 national drugs strategy, The Road to Recovery , sets out an approach with a strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention and support for families, as well as strengthened management of risk, delivered in partnership with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the third sector.

  Ministers across Scottish Government continue to work together, regularly and consistently, to ensure children affected by parental substance misuse receive the care, protection and support they need to share the same high aspirations we have for all of Scotland’s children. We have not sought to replicate structures such as the former Cabinet Delivery Group on Children and Young People in this area.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the extension of the export credit insurance scheme to cover the export of fish products to eastern Europe and whether any such representations have resulted in an undertaking to extend the scheme in this way.

Richard Lochhead: I have written to Lord Mandelson on this issue and currently await his response. In the interim, Scottish Development International continues to keep UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) appraised on instances where export credit insurance is cited as a constraint by Scottish companies or groups of Scottish companies.

Enterprise

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional support it plans to give the Harris tweed sector to help it maintain and improve its international marketing strategies.

Jim Mather: Scottish ministers are committed to supporting a strong and vibrant Harris tweed sector and will work jointly with the Harris Tweed Industry Liaison Group to assist its sustainable development and growth, including its international marketing strategies.

  I will meet stakeholders in April in Stornoway to discuss further the way forward for the sector.

  Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Scottish Enterprise Textiles team and Scottish Development International are dedicating significant resources to help maintain and improve its international promotion. This includes funding for marketing activities of the Harris Tweed Authority and for a programme to promote the Harris tweed brand with international events.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to identify peat bogs where peat depth is 50cm or greater and whether specific advice to land managers on the steps that they can take to prevent the release of CO 2 and other greenhouse gases from such carbon stores is provided free of charge as part of the public goods advice programme operated by the Scottish Agricultural College and other government agencies.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has commissioned a study to advise on the costs and benefits of a targeted national peat survey, and on the state of our current knowledge on carbon stocks tied into peatlands. The report is due to be published by the Scottish Government in April 2009 and will provide clear advice on the distribution of peat with a depth of 50cm or greater.

  A new advisory activity covering climate change has been added to the Scottish Agricultural College’s Public Good Advisory service for 2009-10. This new activity will involve a range of initiatives to inform farmers and provide practical advice on steps they can take to mitigate climate change and its impacts, including measures to protect peatland and moorland from damage.

  The Scottish Government also recently published a report on calculating carbon losses from wind farms on peatlands – most of the advice contained within the report advises land managers how to minimise carbon losses from peat. This advice replaces earlier guidance developed by Scottish Natural Heritage and can be found at www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/06/25114657/0.

  In principle, restoration and re-instatement of peatlands may be ultimately beneficial in terms of carbon sequestration. However, uncertainty exists on the time taken for such sites to change from initial sources of methane, to become sinks of carbon dioxide. Given this uncertainty we will be seeking further evidence to allow us and our stakeholders to develop the best approach to this issue.

Environment

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list those areas of peat land where it (a) supports the restoration and conservation of peat bogs and (b) expects that further action to restore peat resources damaged by past drainage and inappropriate afforestation will be targeted.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government has been working with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a co-ordinated approach to the protection of soils (including peatland), and will publish the Scottish Soil Framework in spring 2009. The framework will recognise Scottish peatlands as a large and important store of carbon within the UK, Europe and globally, as well as supporting important Scottish biodiversity and landscapes.

  As part of the Scottish Soil Framework, Scottish Government will continue to work with a broad range of stakeholders to co-ordinate and enhance measures to protect soils, including peatlands. In particular, the Forestry Commission Scotland have issued guidance on woodland planting and removal and associated restoration of peat bogs, and Scottish Natural Heritage already fund and support a number of projects and schemes to support peatland conservation and restoration for biodiversity objectives.

Environment

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is assessing the risk to trees from sudden oak death, Phytophtora ramorum, and whether action can be taken to reduce the risk.

Roseanna Cunningham: The Scottish Government launched a consultation paper: Consultation on future management of risks from Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae in July 2008. This included assessments of the potential impact of these diseases on trees. We are also in the process of commissioning further research into the epidemiology of Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae in Scottish conditions and on heathland plants.

  The Scottish Government has been taking action to reduce the risks posed by these diseases and is now working with partners in Scotland’s Environmental and Rural Services (SEARS), including Forestry Commission Scotland, to deliver a plan for increased activity. This will include the removal of Rhododendron ponticum from high-risk woodland sites as this has been shown to be the most effective way of combating the risk to trees from these diseases.

  To date there have been no trees infected with Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae in Scotland.

Fuel Poverty

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-19941 by Stewart Maxwell on 27 January 2009, whether it has finalised the measures to be included initially in the Energy Assistance Package and, if so, what those measures are.

Alex Neil: The Energy Assistance Package provides a four stage approach to helping people vulnerable to fuel poverty. This includes measures to help maximise income and reduce fuel bills at Stage 2, and measures to improve the physical energy efficiency of the home at Stages 3 and 4.

  The list of physical measures to be included during the first year of the Energy Assistance Package at Stage 4 are as follows:

  Draught proofing / insulation measures: draught proofing and curtain linings; room thermostats, heating controls and reflective radiator panels; carbon monoxide detector (except where heating system is electric), mains-linked smoke detector and a cold alarm; hot and cold water tank and pipe insulation (where appropriate); loft insulation, loft top ups and cavity wall insulation (where not already provided at Stage 3); internal cladding, and external cladding.

  Heating systems and advice on their use: boiler only replacements; gas central heating systems (for those with access to the gas grid); air source heat pumps; electric storage central heating systems; oil central heating systems (where replacing an existing oil system); solid fuel central heating systems (where replacing an existing solid fuel system); electric wet heating systems (where replacing an existing electric wet system); liquefied petroleum gas systems (where replacing an existing liquefied petroleum gas system), and district heating connections (where appropriate).

Fuel Poverty

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it expects to benefit under the Energy Assistance Package who qualify due to having a child under five and being in receipt of child tax credits or working tax credit under the Tax Credits Act 2002 where the relevant income is less than £17,474.

Alex Neil: All households are encouraged to contact the Energy Assistance Package freephone number - 0800 512012 - to see if they can benefit from energy efficiency advice, an income maximisation check, a tariffs check, standard CERT insulation measures or more enhanced energy efficiency measures under Stage 4.

  From the Scottish House Condition Survey, it is estimated that there are around 6,000 households in an energy inefficient home, with a child aged under five and on one of a range of eligible benefits, including child tax credits, working tax credits, attendance allowance or disability living allowance, though it should be noted that this estimate is based on a relatively small survey sample for these household types.

Fuel Poverty

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people it expects to benefit under the Energy Assistance Package who qualify due to having a child under 16 who has been awarded a disability living allowance within the meaning of section 71 of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992.

Alex Neil: All households are encouraged to contact the Energy Assistance Package freephone number - 0800 512012 - to see if they can benefit from energy efficiency advice, an income maximisation check, a tariffs check, standard CERT insulation measures or more enhanced energy efficiency measures under Stage 4. From the Scottish House Condition Survey, it is estimated that there are around 2,000 households living in energy inefficient homes and with a disabled child under 16 that will qualify for Stage 4 measures, though it should be noted that this estimate is based on a relatively small survey sample for these household types.

Fuel Poverty

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated how many pensioners will no longer qualify for free central heating after 1 April 2009 due to their not being eligible for the guarantee credit as mentioned in section 1 of the State Pension Credit Act 2002.

Alex Neil: As the eligibility for the new Energy Assistance Package focuses on energy inefficient homes, whereas eligibility for the old Central Heating Programme focussed on inefficient or broken heating systems only, it is not possible to readily compare. All households are encouraged to contact the Energy Assistance Package freephone number - 0800 512012 - to see if they can benefit from energy efficiency advice, an income maximisation check, a tariffs check, standard CERT insulation measures or more enhanced energy efficiency measures under Stage 4.

  From the Scottish House Condition Survey, it is estimated that there are around 71,000 pensioner households that will qualify for Stage 4 measures. Of these, 15,000 are estimated to have never had central heating, 29,000 are expected to be aged over 75 and in energy inefficient homes, and 27,000 are aged between 60 and 74, in energy inefficient homes and are on one of a range of eligible benefits including the guarantee element of pension credit, attendance allowance or disability living allowance.

General Practitioners

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase the number and availability of diagnostic tests in GP surgeries.

Shona Robison: This is part of the work programme of Shifting the Balance of Care, under the Better Health, Better Care Action Plan, with the aim of delivering services as locally as possible.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients were treated in the private sector in each financial year since 2003-04.

Nicola Sturgeon: SMR01 data returns relating to the private sector are known to be significantly incomplete. In July 2008 NHS boards were asked to ensure submission of complete and accurate data. The Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland (ISD) data return relating to the private health care includes independent hospitals, hospices and care homes run by local authorities and charities. The following table shows available information for in-patient / day case activity that has been submitted for NHS patients treated by independent healthcare providers in Scotland.

  NHSScotland In-Patient and Day Case Episodes – Numbers of Records that have been Submitted for Independent Locations in Scotland; Financial Years since 2003-041

  

 
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Independent hospitals
 
 
 
 
 


 Abbey Carrick Glen Hospital 
 205
 298
 577
 422
 109


 Abbey King’s Park Hospital
 -
 -
 12
 95
 289


 Albyn Hospital 
 132
 342
 471
 667
 313


 Fernbrae Hospital 
 91
 213
 75
 16
 -


 Glasgow Nuffield Hospital 
 40
 25
 30
 146
 72


 Murrayfield Hospital 
 35
 172
 145
 137
 154


 Ross Hall Hospital 
 369
 101
 73
 89
 5


 Woodlands Hospital (Darlington)
 -
 7
 27
 47
 18


 Independent hospitals (excl. SRTC)
 872
 1,158
 1,410
 1,619
 960


 SRTC at Stracathro Hospital
 -
 -
 -
 44
 1,372


 Hospices, private nursing homes and other independent providers (including homes run by local authorities or charities)2
 1,484
 1,102
 1,170
 1,735
 2,246



  Source: ISD Scotland [Form SMR01] Date: 23 March 2009.

  Note: 1. It is emphasised that the figures shown are based on incomplete returns. The figures will be of limited use and should be treated with caution.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many NHS patients have been treated in the private sector in 2008-09.

Nicola Sturgeon: Provisional data on the number of NHS patients treated in the private sector in 2008-09 will be available in June 2009.

Health

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-20359 and S3W-21586 by Nicola Sturgeon on 23 February 2008 and 16 March 2008 respectively, for what reason it did not provide the 2008 figures in answer to the earlier question.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information presented in the answer to question S3W-20359 was extracted from a snapshot of the national Scottish Morbidity Record (SMR) file taken during January 2009. Initial data for December 2008 had not, at that time, been submitted to the national file and therefore the Information and Statistics Division of NHS National Services Scotland (ISD) were not in a position to provide 2008 figures.

  The information presented in the answer to question S3W-21586 was extracted after the February update to the national file when initial December 2008 data had become available. These 2008 data are provisional.

  As stated in the questions S3W-21983 and S3W-21984, SMR01 data returns relating to the private sector are known to be significantly incomplete. In July 2008 NHS boards were asked to ensure submission of complete and accurate data. In addition the ISD data return relating to the private health care includes independent hospitals, hospices and care homes run by local authorities and charities.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-21983 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Historic Buildings

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Historic Scotland on the use of alternatives to indigenous slate when repairing or refurbishing its properties.

Michael Russell: Slating issues at Historic Scotland’s Properties in Care are limited in extent, as the majority of Properties in Care are monuments, with no roof structure. Where slate roofs exist, the approach is to minimise the requirement for replacement material by careful re-use of what is there. The shortfall is made up from existing stocks of varying types of indigenous slate.

  Where there are significant areas of slating or roof covering required, new material is occasionally used, for example on the Great Hall at Stirling Castle carried out in 1993. As there was no existing material, a slate from the North of England was used, however, by contrast, the re-roofing of Elcho Castle in 2008 required only a modest addition of Scotch slates as the majority of the material was re-used. Other options are certain slates from Wales available in random lengths.

  The policy is to use salvaged Scottish slate when availability and cost of such supply permits. When considering the use of new material, the key factor in what can be used is the ability of the quarry to supply slates in the random lengths and widths required for a traditional Scottish roof.

Historic Buildings

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with Historic Scotland in relation to including reference to alternatives to indigenous slate when advising on the repair or refurbishment of listed buildings.

Michael Russell: Historic Scotland, who act on behalf of Scottish ministers on these matters, are currently reviewing and reissuing their guidance on the treatment of roofs of listed buildings, to be published in the next financial year. Their guidance does, and will continue to, recognise that slate needs to be replaced over time. The policy is to use salvaged Scottish slate where possible, when supplies are available. When replacement is justified, the new slates should match the original in terms of size, colour, thickness and texture and that they are fixed in the traditional manner; this will usually mean random sized slates to match the characteristic of traditional Scottish roofs.

  Historic Scotland are aware that an exact match is not always possible, and usually suggest that the planning authority requests a sample of the proposed new slate to be submitted for their approval. While Historic Scotland are not normally involved in the choice of slate beyond this point, the planning authority can ask their opinion on the submitted sample(s).

  While preferring a native slate type, Historic Scotland would not usually specify that a particular type of slate is used, except where the building is of the highest calibre or the original slate is still available (for example, certain types of Welsh and Westmorland slate). The main exception to this would be where they are providing grant-aid for the replacement slate. In this instance a particular type of slate might be required as part of the conditions of the grant.

  Should second hand Scottish slate not be available, the question of replacement slates is not strictly one of quality or origin – all quarries have a range of slate of differing grades (which is reflected in their durability) but in what ranges of sizes the quarry can offer to achieve the diminishing courses. A recent example of this approach is the grant aided replacement roof of Castlemilk Stables in Glasgow, where a Westmoreland slate was supplied in random lengths and widths, laid in diminishing courses.

Housing

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many applicants to the mortgage to rent scheme have retained the maximum allowable amount of £8,000 after their property transfer was completed.

Alex Neil: The information requested is not held centrally.

Justice

Bill Aitken (Glasgow) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been collected in fiscal fines imposed since the implementation of summary justice reforms and in how many cases (a) no payment has been made and (b) payments are overdue.

Kenny MacAskill: From the 36,038 fiscal penalties registered and accepted (including deemed acceptance), with a total value of £3.7 million, between 10 March 2008 and 31 December 2008, the Scottish Court Service (SCS) has collected £1.3 million.

  59% of all fiscal penalties have been either paid in full or are being paid by instalments. Where any instalments have fallen into arrears, SCS will take enforcement action to bring payments back on track. Of the 36,038 fiscal penalties, 16,528 (46%) have been fully paid or being paid by instalments. A further 4,769 (13%) have had instalments paid but fallen into arrears. 14,741 (41%) have not been paid and are being targeted for enforcement action.

  The percentage rate as to accounts accepted and accounts in arrears for the periods from March 2008 to December 2008 are shown below:

  

 Period
 Arrears
 Paid in Full/Within Agreed Arrangements


 March to June 2008
 49%
 51%


 July to September 2008
 58%
 42%


 October to December 2008
 56%
 44%



  The above figures reflect the position as at 6 March 2009 for fiscal penalties (fines, compensation and a combination of both) accepted (including deemed acceptance) up to 31 December 2008 as reporting data for January and February 2009 would include a number of accounts registered but not yet accepted or deemed accepted.

Justice

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been collected in the Lothians region in fiscal fines imposed since the implementation of summary justice reforms and in how many cases (a) no payment has been made and (b) payments are overdue.

Kenny MacAskill: From the 4,539 fiscal penalties registered and accepted (including deemed acceptance) between 10 March 2008 and 31 December 2008 with a value of £493,000 in the Sheriffdom of Lothian and Borders, Scottish Court Service (SCS) has collected £173,000.

  67% of all fiscal penalties have been either paid in full or in part. Where any payments have fallen into arrears, SCS will take enforcement action to bring payments back on track. Of the 4,539 fiscal penalties 2,533 (56%) have been fully paid or are within agreed arrangements. A further 529 (12%) have had instalments paid but fallen into arrears. 1,477 (32%) have not been paid and are being targeted for enforcement action.

  The percentage rate as to accounts in arrears for the periods from March 2008 to December 2008 are shown below:

  

 Period
 Arrears
 Paid in Full/ Within Agreed Arrangements


 March to June 2008
 44%
 56%


 July to September 2008
 54%
 46%


 October to December 2008
 36%
 64%



  The above figures reflect the position as at 6 March 2009 for fiscal penalties (fines, compensation and a combination of both) accepted (including deemed acceptance) up to 31 December 2008 as reporting data for January and February 2009 would include a number of accounts registered but not yet accepted or deemed accepted.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the Department for Work and Pensions’ summit on tackling violence against betting shop workers convened by Pat McFadden MP, Minister for Employment Relations, with key stakeholders in November 2008, whether it intends to hold a similar summit and, if so, (a) when, (b) what stakeholders will be invited and (c) what issues will be discussed.

Kenny MacAskill: The First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice met with Community trade union on 11 September 2008 to discuss issues relating to betting shops.

  The Cabinet Secretary for Justice agreed to host a meeting of representatives of betting shop owners and employees. This meeting is being arranged.

  The Scottish Government has no other plans to hold a summit on tackling violence against betting shop workers at this time. However, the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives is considering a forum to bring appropriate parties together to look at making the workplace safer and healthier and to consider the criminal issues.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it intends to take in light of concerns raised about the incidence of (a) verbal and (b) physical abuse against betting shop workers, as outlined in the Safer Betting Shops - Minimum Standards Report , published by the Community trade union in March 2009.

Kenny MacAskill: The First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Justice met with Community trade union on 11 September 2008. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice agreed to host a meeting of representatives of betting shop owners and employees in the near future to discuss action on the risks facing staff.

  This meeting is being arranged.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of concerns raised by the Community trade union, whether it is aware of an increased incidence of weapons being used against betting shop workers in crimes of robbery and assault with the intention to rob and, if so, what action it intends to take to protect such workers.

Kenny MacAskill: The First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice met with Community trade union on 11 September 2008 when issues relating to incidents in betting shops were discussed. The Cabinet Secretary for Justice agreed to host a meeting of representatives from betting shop operators and employees. This meeting is being arranged.

  We have no official information on increased incidence of weapons being used against betting shop workers in crimes of robbery and assault.

Ministerial Meetings

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the meetings between the (a) Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, (b) Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, (c) Cabinet Secretary for Justice, (d) Minister for Children and Early Years, (e) Minister for Community Safety and (f) Minister for Public Health and Sport and child protection committees.

Adam Ingram: While all ministers will discuss child protection issues with relevant bodies as appropriate, Adam Ingram, Minister for Children and Early Years, leads for the Scottish Government on engagement with Child Protection Committees (CPC). He met with all CPCs on 18 March 2008 and again on 11 December 2008. On 11 February 2009, Mr Ingram attended the first meeting of the working group for review of child protection guidance, which included representatives of CPCs.

  Mr Ingram met with individual CPCs on the following occasions:

  

 5 February 2008
 Clackmannanshire Council


 27 March 2008
 East Renfrewshire 


 3 June 2008
 Moray


 18 June 2008
 Aberdeen City


 12 September 2008
 Stirling


 12 January 2009
 Aberdeen City


 13 January 2009
 Moray


 10 March 2009
 Renfrewshire


 10 March 2009
 East Lothian

Pharmacists

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when responsibility for routine repeat prescribing will be transferred to pharmacists.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has no plans to transfer routine repeat prescribing to community pharmacists. Trained pharmacists can prescribe under supplementary and/or independent prescribing arrangements. These arrangements can include repeat prescribing.

  In addition, the Chronic Medication Service (CMS), which is one of the key elements of the new community pharmacy contract, will formalise the role of community pharmacists in the management of individual patients with long-term conditions.

Planning

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-9066 by Michael Russell on 25 February 2008, whether an official from the Rural Directorate was asked to contact Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) about the planning applications on 29 November 2007 and, if so, what the basis is for the Minister for Environment’s statement that his involvement in discussions with SEPA on the Aviemore resort hotels planning applications resulted from an approach by a cross-party group of parliamentarians.

Roseanna Cunningham: I refer the member to the question S3W-21698 on 19 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Procurement

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that devolved public authorities advertise their tendering opportunities on the new national online procurement portal, Public Contracts Scotland (PCS), and which authorities have still to sign up to PCS.

John Swinney: Over 900 staff across the wider public sector have now been trained in using the portal and 100 Scottish public bodies are currently advertising opportunities. A list of the bodies that are either advertising on the portal or are in the process of implementing across their organisation is available to download at:

  http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/guides/Guides_show.aspx?id=241.

  The Scottish Procurement Directorate (SPD) is continuing to work with the procurement Centres of Expertise established in each key sector (following the McClelland Report in 2006) to ensure that the portal is used as widely as possible by public bodies in Scotland.

  As Chair of the Public Procurement Reform Board, I intend to monitor use of Public Contracts Scotland closely, to ensure that it meets its objective of providing Scottish businesses with a single point of information on public sector contract opportunities. Also, in January, the Public Procurement Reform Board proposed that all contracts above £50,000 in value should be considered for advertising on Public Contracts Scotland and guidance on this will be published by SPD shortly.

Public Sector Buildings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new buildings it procured in each of the last five years and how many were (a) rented, (b) leased, (c) purchased and (d) acquired under some other finance mechanism.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22033 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  We do not hold information on whether buildings acquired are in fact newly built or new to the Scottish Executive. The core Scottish Executive has not purchased any new office buildings over the past five years.

Public Sector Buildings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new buildings were procured in Scotland by (a) executive agencies and (b) non-departmental public bodies in each of the last five years and how many were (i) rented, (ii) leased, (iii) purchased and (iv) acquired under some other finance mechanism.

John Swinney: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22033 on 27 March 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

  We do not hold information on whether buildings acquired are in fact newly built or new to the Scottish Executive, its Agencies and non-departmental public bodies. Over the past five years only one newly built office building was purchased by a non departmental public body.

Public Sector Buildings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new leasing arrangements for buildings that it occupied involved (a) new leases and (b) renewals of existing leases in each of the last five years.

John Swinney: The information held within the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (e-PIMS) shows that the number of new lease arrangements for each of the past five years entered into by Core Scottish Executive is as follows:

  2004: 1

  2005: 2

  2006: 3

  2007: 0

  2008: 0.

  A renewal of an existing lease is classified as a new lease and included within the above statistics.

Public Sector Buildings

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new leasing arrangements for buildings occupied in Scotland by (a) non-departmental public bodies and (b) Executive agencies involved (i) new leases and (ii) renewals of existing leases in each of the last five years.

John Swinney: The information held within the Electronic Property Information Mapping Service (e-PIMS) over each of the five years shows the number of new lease arrangements entered into by non-core Scottish Executive bodies is as follows:

  2004: 11

  2005: 27

  2006: 18

  2007: 19

  2008: 3.

  A renewal of an existing lease is classified as a new lease and included within the above statistics.

Schools

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new schools it has commissioned since May 2007.

Keith Brown: Local authorities are continuing to commission schools using the record levels of capital funding made available by the Scottish Government. They are taking forward a £2 billion investment programme in schools which should see 250 new or refurbished schools built by 2011.

  Since May 2007 authorities have signed off eight major PPP or NPD Government supported schools projects, which have seen construction work start on 49 new schools. The Scottish Government does not hold comprehensive or month by month lists of all individual contracts awarded by Councils for the construction of new schools. However, for illustrative purposes the contracts awarded for new school builds since May 2007 have included Kingspark Special School in Dundee, Seaview Primary in Monifieth, Cargenbridge, Troqueer and Lincluden Primaries in Dumfries and Galloway, Tinto and Govan Riverside Primaries in Glasgow and seven primary schools in South Lanarkshire.

Schools

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3F-1526 by Alex Salmond on 12 March 2009, which of the schools planned or under construction in Dumfries and Galloway were commissioned by the current administration.

Keith Brown: Consideration and decisions regarding individual school projects are, as they have always been, a matter for local authorities.

  Information supplied by Dumfries and Galloway Council indicates that the contracts for the rebuilding of three primary schools at Cargenbridge, Troqueer and Lincluden were awarded by the council in March 2008, with construction of each commencing shortly thereafter.

Schools

Andy Kerr (East Kilbride) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to the second supplementary to question S3F-11526 by Alex Salmond on 12 March 2009 ( Official Report  c. 15743), whether all contract documentation and tenders for successful and unsuccessful bids for school buildings will be published under its freedom of information policy.

Keith Brown: Local authorities rarely have reason to share such documentation, tenders and bids with government.

Scottish Government Events

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it has paid Sandi Thom, directly or through an agent, for attending or performing at Scottish Government-supported events, broken down by individual payment and including expenses.

Michael Russell: Sandi Thom has not accepted a performance fee for any of the Scottish Government–supported events she has participated in.

  Expenses paid to Sandi Thom are as follows for 2008:

  St Andrew’s DO at West Princes Street Gardens – Hotel accommodation (£860), breakfast, dinner and refreshments (£581.75), flights for Ms Thom, her three piece band and tour manager (£1,440.53), car (£404.00) and the Agency fee (£750).

  Launch at Duff House – agency fee of £1,000 and transport costs of £1,478.30.

  All celebrities, including Sandi Thom, who were involved in producing and launching the Homecoming Scotland television advert, gave their time for no charge.

  In 2007 Sandi Thom was paid a flat rate of £3,000 towards covering expenses associated with appearing at Scottish Government supported St Andrew’s Day events.

Sport

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provides to support the Scottish women’s international squash team.

Shona Robison: The information requested is a matter for the delivery body - sportscotland. As such this information is not held centrally by the Scottish Government.

  Funding for squash is routed through the relevant governing body via sportscotland and I refer the member to their Financial Summary within the Annual Review 2007-08. The Annual Review can be found at:

  http://www.sportscotland.org.uk/ChannelNavigation/Resource+Library/ Publications/Annual+Review+200708++Moving+Forward+Together.htm.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether consideration has been given to asking Transport Scotland to take over responsibility as client for the delivery of the contract for the Edinburgh tram project if Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) fails to fulfil its duties and preparatory works.

Stewart Stevenson: Responsibility for the delivery of the Edinburgh Tram project is a matter for the City of Edinburgh Council.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has sought assurances that the progress of utility works for the Edinburgh tram scheme will be completed by the original and anticipated date.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland maintains standard monthly promoter reporting procedures which covers cost and programme issues.

Transport

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21032 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 March 2009, whether it will publish the detailed results of the modelling work on the Inverness bypass undertaken by Transport Scotland between July and December 2008 and the specific results on the costs and benefits of the project in real terms.

Stewart Stevenson: The recommendations of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) are based on the most robust analysis and evidence available taking the future needs of Scotland’s strategic transport infrastructure into account.

  The results of the modelling work on the Inverness bypass are presented in the option summary table (Annex 3, E6) of Report 3 to the STPR. The values are shown in ranges as they are indicative estimates and indicate a capital cost of between £100 million and £250 million, value of cost to government (equivalent to present value of costs) of between £50 million and £100 million and present value benefits of between £10 million and £50 million.

  The present values are used to calculate the benefit to cost ratio as is standard in transport appraisal to allow a consistent comparison across schemes.

Transport

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what work on the economic impact of the Inverness bypass was carried out before the draft of the Strategic Transport Projects Review report 3 was produced in July 2008 and whether it will publish the information.

Stewart Stevenson: The recommendations of the Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) are based on the most robust analysis and evidence available taking the future needs of Scotland’s strategic transport infrastructure into account.

  Appraisal work undertaken by Highland Council contributed to the Strategic Transport Projects Review report 3 and were incorporated in the incomplete version used by officials in July 2008.

  This document was first provided to ministers in December 2008 at which time gaps in the information and analysis which existed in July had been filled.

Transport

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-21036 by Stewart Stevenson on 11 March 2009, whether it will list the recommended schemes in the Strategic Transport Projects Review that may take longer to complete than the 10 years between 2012 and 2022.

Stewart Stevenson: In implementing these recommended schemes, there are many stages to be undertaken, including detailed design and essential consultative and statutory stages before setting out a programme and associated timescale for each scheme.

  This process is detailed in paragraphs 4.33 to 4.38 of Report 4 to the STPR which can be found on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov/uk/stpr.

  It is therefore not possible to list the recommended schemes which may be completed after 2022.